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W. LAWRENCE.

MEANS FOR MOUNTING TRENCH GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. I9I6. 1,322, 124. Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

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MEANS FOR MOUNTING TRENCH GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 12. I916.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

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UNFTF; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLSE LAWRENCE, or PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR or ONE-TENTH To FRANK A. BULLINGTON, or PORTLAND, OREGON, AND NINE-TENTHS To UNITED STATES MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or SOUTH DEERFIELD, DEERFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MEANS FOR. MOUNTING [FRENCH-GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18, 1919.

Application filed April 12, 1916. Serial No. 90,689.

My invention relates to means for mounting trench guns, and more particularlynto a machine by means of which a gun, such as a rifle, machine gun, or the like, can be supported at the upper end of a vertical supporting structur-e, at a distance above the operator, by means of which said gun can be effectively manipulated, aimedand fired by the operator from his position below, thus providing a machine by means of which a man in a trench, or behind other protection, can manipulate and effectively use a rifle, or machine gun, supported at a distance above, without exposing himself to the fire of the enemy.

Among the salient objects of my invention are,-to provide inadevice of the character referred to, a vertical supporting structure upon which a gun can be raised and lowered to the desired height and which can be tilted or turned in order .to accurately aim the gun at the top of the structure, with means for manipulating from the position below. the loading and discharging mechanism of the gun; to provide in combination therewith a periscope structure through which the gun may be accurately aimed from a distance below the gun, and which will at the same time permit the adjustment of the gun up and down without interfering with the'periscope structure; and, in general, to provide a machine of the character referred to, capable of all the necessary adjustments and movements required for aiming the gun and for discharging the same.

In order that others may understand my invention I have illustrated the same in the accompanying four sheets of drawings which I will now describe.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, with a portion of the middle and the lower ends of the legs broken away to reduce the height of the figure;

2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig, 3 is a top plan view of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view thereof on the line 4-4:, of Fig. 1;

F1g. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the rifle manlpulating parts seen in the upper part of Fig. 1, but in a different position; Flg. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the same parts in another position of movement;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the entire machine showing in dotted lines different positions of adjustment;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation, partly in sect1on with parts broken away, of a slightly modified construction adapted for using a machine gun;

, Fig. 11 is a top plan view of Fig. 10, taken on line 11-11; and

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 9', my invention, as here illustrated, comprises in combination a supporting base 1, provided with supporting legs 2-2. A turn table 3, is rotatably mounted in the base 1, provided at oneside underneath the edge of the base 1, with a segmental rack t, by v means of which said turn table can be turned within the supporting base 1. Formed upon opposite sides of said turn table 3, are two supporting bearing lugs 5-5, in which is mounted a supporting shaft 6. Movably supported upon said shaft 6, is a pair of angle members 7-7, secured thereto by means of supportingportions 8-8, said an.- gle members 7-7, being connected together near their lower ends-by means of a connecting piece 9, through which is mounted a screw 10, having a screw engagement at one end with a plate 11, slidably mounted upon a pair of pins 12-12, secured to the connecting member 9, said pins being provided with coiled springs 13-13, clearly shown in Figs. 1 and at. The opposite end of said screw 10, has suitable supporting bearings in a downwardly depending extension 14, from the under side of the turn table 3, said screw being provided with an the hand Wheel 15, the vertical angle members 77, can be tilted upon their pivot support, at 6, forwardly or backwardly, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9, for a purpose hereinafter referred to. The springs 13-13, on pins 1212, also operate to cushion any back kick which may be imparted to the upper end of said angle members by the discharge of the gun.

As a means for turning the turn table 3, it is provided at one side with a lug member3}, to which is hinged an irregular lever 3 carrying a gear 3 adapted to mesh with the segmental rack 4, on the under side of said turn table 3, said gear 3, being turned by means of a handle 3, as will be clear from Figs, 1 and 2. It will be noted that by grasping the handle 3 the lever 3", can be lifted outwardly and the turn table 3 can be turned by direct movement of said hand lever 3', after which said lever can be moved downwardly to bring the gear 3, into mesh with the segmental rack 4, where by any closer adjustment can be made by turning the gear 3 by means of its handle 3.

Slidably mounted upon'the upper end of the angle members 7-7, is a gun carrier base 16, having bracket like portion 17, with means at its upper edge for holding a gun 18. Said base 16, has a slidin engagement with the angle members .77. Mounted on one of said angle members 7, is a pair of brackets 1919, connected by means of a combination guide and operating square shaft 20, provided at its lower end with an operating handle 20, with which shaft 20, said gun carrier base has a'sliding connection, as at 21. Mounted on the other angle member, is a corresponding pair ofbrackets 22-22, between which is mounted a lifting screw 23, having a screwrengagement with a sleeve 24, mounted through the base 16, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2, said sleeve havin an arm extension 24, extended over to the middle of the gun supporting base 16, as indicated in Fig. 3, at which point it has a lifting engagement with the center of the gun supporting base 16, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 at 24 said screw being provided on its' lower end with a gear 25, in mesh with a hand-operated gear 26, provided with a handle 27 and by means of which screw 23, said gun carrier base 16, and the mechanism mounted thereon can be raised and lowered at will, as will be clear from Fig. 2.

An upstanding arm 28 is formed upon said base 16, with the upper 'end of which is connected, by means of a slot and pin connection, a link 29, having downwardly depending arm 30, and the forward end of which is provided with a rack, as 31., I

said link also having a slot and pin connection at its forward end, as at'32, thepln being mounted upon an upstanding arm 33,

similar to the arm 28, mounted on the base 16. Pivotally connected with the depending arm 30, on said link, is an operating lever 34, the opposite end of which is connected by means of a link 35, with a rifle bolt 36 of the rifle 18, said link 35, being connected at both ends by means of ball and socket oints, whereby as said lever 34, is lifted,in a manner now to be described, said rifle bolt 36, of said rifle is raised in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

Mounted upon said shaft 20, above said gun carrier base 16, is a sleeve member 37, having formed on its upper end a segmental gear 38, adapted to mesh with the rack 31, upon the link 29, as clearly indicated. Also formed on one side of said sleeve member 37, is a cam lug 39, having a cam groove 40, adapted to operate upon a roller 41, mounted upon the side of the lever 34. Thus when said shaft 20, is turned b y means. of the hand lever 20 shown in different positions in dot-- ted lines in Fig. 4, said sleeve 37, is turned and through its cam lug 39, raises lever 34-, and the rifle bolt 36, and by a continued inovement said semnental ear 38 oaerates to move the link 29, rearwardly, will be clear from Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Thus by operating the handle 20, the operator is able through the connecting mechanism to manipulate the rifle bolt 36, of the rifle 18, raising it and then drawing it out in the manner indicated in Fig. 6. In Fig. 4, said operatin handle 20, is shown in three different positions. In full lines it is shown in the position it occupies when the gun is loaded ready to fire, as shown in full lines, Fig. 1. In the next dotted line position the parts have been moved to the positions indicated in Figs. 5 and 7, the cam lug 39, acting on the roller 41, on the lever 34, and with the segmental gear 33, ready to engage with the rack 31. In the next dotted line position of said lever 20", the parts have been moved to the positions shown in Figs. 6 and 8, that is, the rifle bolt has been withdrawn for extracting the shell. The return iiovement of said handle 20, moves the rifle bolt 36, inwardly and downwardly again into firing position. Mounted upon the upper edge of the link 29, is a member 42, adapted to be engaged by a pin 43, upon the segmental gear 33, which pin is so positioned that as said sleeve 37, and said segmetal. gear 38, are turned, said pin 43, will engage said contacting member 42, and cause any necessary movement of the rack 31, so as to make sure of proper meshing between the segmental gear 33, and the rack 31.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, I have shown a trigger cable 44, w 11Cl1 is attached at one end to the trigger of the rifle. It then passes back over guide pulleys 45 and 46, shown in Fig. 3, and thence down to a convenient position for theoperator.

box having a suitable opening 49, in its top,

as shown in Fig. 4, and having its front side open, as will be understood from the drawings, with an inclined mirror 50, mounted therein, as indicated in Fig. 1. Directly above said periscope structure 48, and mounted upon the gun supporting base 16,

is the other portion of said periscope structure constituting a tubular member 51, set over an opening in the base 16, as indicated by dotted lines, in .Fig. 1. Upon the top of said tubular member is another box-like member 52, open in its side next to the gun 18, and provided therein with an inclined mirror 53, as indicated, said box-like member being open in its bottom over said tubular member 51, thus making it possible by 2 looking into the open outer side of the member 48, and into the mirror 50, to look up through the tubular member 51, and into the mirror 53, in the box 52, and in this mirror tosee the gun sights clearly. This will be clear by reference to Fig. 2, which is the rear view of the machine, and in which one looks into the lower periscope box 48, and into the mirror 50', in which is seen the rear end of the rifle, and also the sight members, indicated in full lines in said mirror 50, of the box 48, in said Fig. 2.

Referring now to Figs. 10, 11 and 12, I will describe my invention as modified to accommodate a machine, or rapid fire gun, the device being much simpler for a gun of this kind than it is for the rifle, it only being necessary to hold the gun so that it can be adjusted for aiming, with means for pulling the trigger. In these drawings 100 designates the supporting base, 101101 the supporting legs, 102 the turn table, which is rotatably mounted in the supporting base 100, said turn table being provided on its under side with a beveled rack segment 103, with which meshes a beveled gear 104, adapted to be operated by means of a hand wheel 105, said beveled gearand wheel being supported in a downwardly depending arm, 106, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. Pivotally supported through said turn table 102, is a pair of upstanding angle members 107107, supported upon a pivot 108, having its bearings in lug members 109109, mounted upon said turn table. An operating screw .110, supported in a downwardly supporting member 111, and having screw engagement with a cross member 112, upon the lower ends of said angle members, makes it possible to tilt said angle members upon their pivot support 108, by turning said screw 110, by means of its operating hand wheel 113. A gun supporting base 114, is slidably mounted between the angle members 107- 107, as indicated in Fig. 11, said supporting base being raised and lowered by means of a lifting screw 115, operating through a sleeve 116, provided with an arm 117, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, which arm ex tends underneath the base 114, to the center thereof, and to which \point the lifting strain exerted by the screw is applied to the base 114. The lower end of said screw115, is anchored into a suitable bracket 118, and is also provided with a gear 119, adapted to be driven by a gear 120, provided with an operating handle 121, as clearly shown in the drawings. Thus when said operating gear 120, is turned, it operates said screw 115, and raises and lowers said gun supporting base 114, between the angle members 107 107. Mounted UJPOII the gun supporting base 114, is a machine, or rapid fire gun 122, with the trigger 123 of which is connected an operating cord, or cable 124, extended down into a convenient position for the operator.

A two-part periscope structure is also utilized as in the other embodiment of my invention, hereinbefore described, which permits of the vertical adjustment of the gun carrying base without interfering with the function of said periscope structure. The lower box 125, of said iperiscope, is mounted upon suitable supporting arms 126 attached to the angle members 107107, as clearly indicated in Figs. 10 and12, said box being provided with an inclined mirror 127, with a suitable opening in its top 128, shown in the top plan view thereof, Fig. 12. The upper member of the periscope comprises a tubular member 129, mounted through an opening in the gun supporting base 114, and upon which is mounted a periscope box 130, provided with an inclined mirror 131, said box being open in its side next to the gun, whereby the gun sights are reflected through said mirror 131, into the mirror 127, in the box below, no matter what position the gun supporting base 114, oc-

tively as it can be in the hands of the user.

t will also be noted that the'structure above the position'occupiedby the operator is not very heavy, and, therefore, affords very little exposure to the enemy. The angle members are preferably set so that a bullet striking them will be glanced off without doing damage thereto.

I am aware that many changes in the general construction and arrangement of my invention can be made without departing from the spirit thereof, and I do not, therefore, limit my invention to the particular embodiment thereof here shown for purposes of illustration, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims forming a part hereof.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a ro tatable supporting member, a frame pivotally mounted thereon and including a plurality of angle bars, a horizontally and longitudinally movable shaft controlling the pivotal mounting of the frame, means movable vertically along the frame for mounting a gun, means carried by the gun mounting means for controlling the breech mechanism of the gun, and devices located in the rear of the angle members governing the movement of the gun mounting means and the breech mechanism.

2. In a device of the class described, a rotatable supporting member, a frame pivotally mounted thereon and including a plurality of angle bars, a horizontally and longitudinally movable shaft controlling the pivotal mounting of the frame, means movable vertically along the frame for mounting a gun, means carried by the gun mounting means for controlling the breech mechanism of the gun, and devices located in the rear of the angle members governing the movement of the gun mounting means and the breech mechanism, said gun mounting means comprising a horizontally extend ing member cooperating with the angle bars and guided thereby, and a vertically extending bracket member positioned on the side of the angle bars opposite to that engaged by the horizontal member, and directly supporting the gun.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable supporting member, a frame pivotally mounted thereon and including a plurality of angle bars, a horizontally and longitudinally movable shaft 'controlling the pivotal mounting of the frame, means movable vertically along the frame for mounting a gun, means carried by the gun, mounting means for controlling the breech mechanism of the gun, devices located in the rear of the angle members governing the movement of the gun mounting means and the breech mechanism, and a two-part eriscope, one element of which is carried by the gun mounting means. V

4. A device of the character referred to, comprising in combination, a vertical supporting structure, means adjustable lengthwise thereof for supporting a gun upon said vertical structure, a two-part periscope, one part of which is mounted in position adja cent said gun and moving therewith, and the other part of which is mounted upon said vertical supporting structure at a distance below, whereby said gun can be aimed from. below through said two-part periscope, and means connected with said gun and extended to a position below for causing the discharge thereof.

5. A device of the character shown and described, comprising in combination, a support, a turn table thereon, a vertical structure pivotally mounted upon said turn table and turning therewith, gun carrying means movable vertically up and down said vertical structure with means for moving the same at will, a gun carried thereby, means mounted thereonfor manipulating and discharging said gun, said means being extended to and operable from a position below said gun, and a periscope structure arranged for aiming said gun from a position below the same, whereby said gun can be aimed and discharged from said lower position.

6. A device of the character referred to, comprising in combination, a support, a turn table mounted therein, a vertical structure pivotally carried by said turn table, means for moving said vertical. structure upon its pivotal support and for holding it in different angular positions, gun carrying means mounted to be moved up and down upon said vertical structure, means for moving the same to different vertical positions thereon at will, means connected with said gun and operable from a position below for manipulating and discharging said gun, and a two-part periscope structure, one part of which is carried by said gun supporting means near said gun and the other part of which is supported at a distance below, whereby said gun can be aimed from said lower position, substantially as described.

7. A device of the character shown and described, comprising in combination, a support, a turn table mounted upon said support, means for turning the same, a vertical structure pivotally supported in said turn table with means for moving the same upon its pivotal support to different positions of inclination, gun carrying means movable up and down in said vertical structure, a gun carried thereby, an operating screw for raising and lowering said gun carrying means, means. at its lower end for operating said screw, means carried by said gun carrying means for manipulating the loading and discharging mechanism of said gun, an operating shaft carried by said vertical structure and having sliding operating connections with said gun-manipulating means, said shaft being operable from its lower end for manipulating said gun, means connected with said gun for discharging the same from a distance below, and a two-part periscope with one part arranged on said gun carrying means, and the other part supported on said vertical structure at a dis tance below, whereby said gun can be ad justed, aimed and discharged from a distance below the same, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, a r0- tatable supporting member, a structure pivotally connected therewith and extending in a substantially vertical direction when in operative position, means for moving said structure on its pivotal support, means for mounting a gun on the vertical structure at a distance above the supporting member, and in front of the pivoted structure permitting the gun to be discharged above a trench or the like, and means for changing the vertical elevation of the gun and located behind the pivoted structure and protected thereby.

9. In a device of the class described, a rotatable supporting member, a frame pivotally mounted thereon and including a plurality of angle bars, a horizontally and longitudinally movable shaft controlling the pivotal mounting of the frame, means movable vertically along the frame for mounting a gun, and means located in the rear of the angle members governing the movement of the gun mounting means, said gun mounting means comprising a horizontally extending member cooperating with the angle bars and guided thereby, and a vertically extending bracket member positioned on the side of the angle bars opposite to that engaged by the horizontal member, and directly supporting the gun.

10. In a device of the class described, a rotatable supporting member, a frame pivotally mounted thereon and including a plurality of angle bars, a horizontally and longitudinally movable shaft controlling the pivotal mounting of the frame, means movable vertically along the frame for mounting a gun, devices located in rear of and parallel with one of the angle bars governing the movement of the gun mounting means, and a two-part periscope, one element of which is carried by the gun mounting means.

Signed at Portland, Multnomah county, Oregon, this 6th day of April, 1916.

WILLSE LAWRENCE.

In presence of I. M. GRIFFIN, R. B. MoCLUNe. 

